BODY FOUND IN GARDEN

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 714, 13 July 1929, Page 11

BODY FOUND IN GARDEN

parents in court (GAUGES FOLLOW INQUEST Press Association W AIM ATE, Friday. The adjourned inquest on the bones of an infant child, found in a garden, ! M continued today before tho cor- ' oner, Mr. George Dash. The police evidence was that on digging they found the bones, wrapped in elothLomond Kennedy, described as a plumber, of Timaru, said that on July i visited the detective office in Ximaru and made a statement. He had known a woman named Juanita IVilce for about seven years, the acquaintanceship commencing in Tinian About February 24, 1927, Miss IVilce gave birth to a child. Witness here claimed privilege, and | jefused to give further evidence. To Mr. Boland, representing Miss I Wilce, Kennedy said some of his statement was true and some untrue. Detective Studholme said Kennedy met him in Timaru and stated that he had a serious matter to communicate. Witness took him to the office, where Kennedy made a voluntary statement, to the effect that he had known Juanita Wilce for seven years, and had lived with her off and on at times when both of them were away from Waimate. About February 24, 1927, Miss Wilce gave birth to a child. He saw Miss Wilce at ten o’clock thgit night, prior to the birth, and asked her to marry him, and “let the kiddy live.” She refused both requests. The detective continued that Kennedy said ha visited Miss Wilce next morning and was informed of the birth. Mias Wilce told him that during the birth she stopped the child’s breathing with her hand. Kennedy said: ■There’s only one show of getting rid ot It, and that’s to bury it.” Miss Wilce replied: “That is the only way.” Kennedy examined the body, which waa that of a female, and wrapped it up. Afterwards he went to the residence of Miss Wilce’s parents, where they talked in the kitchen for a while, after which Kennedy buried the parcel under a tree. “Miss Wilce’s mother doesn’t know her daughter gave birth to this child, and I did not know that the child had lived,” Kennedy stated. Juanita 'Wilce, aged 26, said she had known Kennedy for seven years. She met him in Timaru when she was employed there. Toward the end of 1926 Kennedy took her to a doctor, giving the names of “Mr. and Mrs. Kennedy.” About three months later she gave birth to a child, which was premature. The child did not cry. She wrapped the body in a piece of cloth ami placed it in a portmanteau. That was on a Thursday. On Sunday Kennedy visited her at the shop where she slept, and later they went out together. When she noticed Kennedy was carrying a parcel, she asked if it was the baby and he said it was, and added that he was going to bury it in her mother’s garden. She did not see Kennedy bury the child; but he told her where he had buried it. She was not attended then and had not been attended since by a doctor. When she found out her condition she told Kennedy she would not marry him, but she made no threats to do away with the child. The date of the birth was the end of January or early in February, 1927. Dr. Wylie said .that on June 14, 1926, the couple called on him, giving him the impression they were married. He had made a careful examination of the bones found. They were undoubtedly those of a full-time child, but he was unable to state the sex, or whether the child had breathed. The coroner’s verdict was: “That the illegitimate child of Juanita Wilce was found buried in the garden of 44 Rhode Street, but there is uo evidence to prove that the child was born alive.” Lomond Kennedy then appeared on remand charged that about February 4. 1927, he disposed of the dead body of a female child by burying it, with intent to conceal birth. Juanita Wilce was charged that about the same date she disposed of the dead body of a female child with intent to conceal that she was its mother. Both were remanded to appear on Tuesday, July 16. Wilce was released on condition that, she reported daily to the police. Kennedy did not ask for hail.